directv hr21 pro hd dvr image leaked on [technabob]

directv hr21 pro hd dvr image leaked

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posted: August 31st, 2007 stumble it!12 comments author: technabob

I was over on DBSTalk this morning reading about some fun I was having with my DirecTV HD DVR, when I stumbled across this interesting image.

DirecTV HR21 Pro DVR

The upcoming DirecTV HR21 PRO looks like a whopper of a high-definition DVR, capable of recording up to 100 hours of HD programming. The recorder is clearly aimed at the high end of the market, with a black, rack-mountable case that’s perfect for serious home theater installations.

According to the flyer (from the upcoming CEDIA show), the recorder will also feature a newfangled “Optical HDMI” port (aka “DLI“), which will allow for digital signals to be sent via fiber optic cable, allowing for longer runs than regular HDMI. From the front panel, it also looks like it’s the first DirecTV DVR to support 1080p output. While I’m excited about the prospects of this DVR, I’m a little concerned that I don’t see any over-the-air antenna input on the back panel, which could be a deal-killer for some.

Not much else is known about the HR21 PRO at this point (it’s rumored to be coming this November, price unknown), but this is definitely one to watch for if you’re a DirecTV subscriber.

[Hi-res Image Here]

12 comments comment

1. Mike | August 31st, 2007 at 8:52 pm

Look at Direct TV channel 201 and 77 and they mention the HR21 and H21
2. technabob | August 31st, 2007 at 9:01 pm

Yeah, I noticed that too. But this is the first time I’ve seen a picture of one or heard any specs. One guy over on DBSTalk claims DirecTV quoted him $599 (but “lease only”) whatever that means. You’d think if it were a lease, there wouldn’t be a big up-front charge.
3. Sang Lee | August 31st, 2007 at 9:42 pm

What is DLI? I have never heard of this
4. technabob | August 31st, 2007 at 10:01 pm

HDCP-DLI (Digital Light Interface) is apparently similar to HDMI, except it works via an optical connection. I’d imagine you’d use it so you can have much longer cable runs than you can with HDMI, then you’d have to have a converter of some sort at the receiving end, since no displays that I know of support DLI at this point.
5. logiclust | September 1st, 2007 at 10:39 am

if it’s so ‘pro’ (and it looks like it because it has rack ears) where’s the hdsdi? where are the BNCs? you still couldn’t integrate this into a broadcast facility without buying other stuff to convert all its outs… Pro but just as useless in a pro environment.
6. Ben | September 1st, 2007 at 11:12 am

I think what he means is that its Prosumer gear - for people such as myself who run 4 TVs off one centrally located rack of AV kit. I would imagine its no different to a standard DirectTV box (not sure what these are like being in the UK), but upscaling to 1080p, bigger HDD and with the rack ears. There would be no use for a device such as this in a broadcast facility. (It is, after all, a satellite reciever!)
7. technabob | September 1st, 2007 at 1:18 pm

Yeah, definitely “PROsumer” here at best. And even that is a big question, leaving out the OTA receiver. Everyone who’s remotely “pro” knows that DTVs local channels are so much more compressed than the OTA versions that it’s always better to watch those. Maybe an HR20-700, an SATA drive upgrade and some black spray paint would be better?
8. TiVo Lovers Blog&hellip | September 1st, 2007 at 5:23 pm

New DirecTV HR21 DVR coming for prosumers…

I caught a report in Technabob, by way of EngadgetHD, on a a new DirecTV DVR aimed at professional installers and high-end consumers, the HR21 PRO Series HD DVR.
This is a rack-mount device for the kind of installations hidden away in an equipment roo…
9. fiberiscool | September 6th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

I just visited the DirecTV booth at CEDIA and saw the HR21 in action. Picture quality is great. This box is 1080i, not 1080p.

The coolest thing of the HR21 is the DLI output (HDMI over fiber optics). The fiber optic line looks like fishing line. It is basically invisble and very long with no signal loss. This cable can actually be installed on the wall simplifying some custom installations especially when used with wall mounted HDTV’s or Projectors acording to the DirecTV salespeople.

I did some research and found out that a company called OWLink Technology is the one that has this fiber optic technology. Check out http://www.owlink.com.
10. direcTV SaTelLiTe | September 23rd, 2007 at 5:08 pm

Any idea how much these things are going to cost? I really want one..
11. Eric In Alaska | December 4th, 2007 at 5:36 am

can i get this does it really exist
12. Kyle | January 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

“if it’s so ‘pro’ (and it looks like it because it has rack ears) where’s the hdsdi? where are the BNCs? you still couldn’t integrate this into a broadcast facility without buying other stuff to convert all its outs… Pro but just as useless in a pro environment.”

good luck watching any hd channels over HD-SDI, don’t forget about HDCP which HD-SDI will not cover.

Kyle